Chapter 124
Chapter 124
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: Verbal Sparring Turns Real
-----------------------------------------------------------------
For Peng Yeonhwa, it was only natural to ask.
Even if he'd dolled himself up to the nines, showing up looking like a beggar drew the eyes.
Seeing Peng Yeonhwa like that, Eon Ha-gun's eyes gleamed.
In this situation, he could instantly think of a way to grab her attention.
Along with how to make himself shine.
'If I play this right?'
Eon Ha-gun glanced at Nangong Hyeok and Nangong Ryong with a sly expression, shrugged, and spoke.
"Those folks over there are from the Nangong Family in distant Anhui, Miss Peng."
At the mention of the Nangong Family, Peng Yeonhwa's face lit up.
"From the Nangong Family! No wonder they looked familiar—it's Young Master Nangong Ryong."
Nangong Ryong lifted his weary face to look at Peng Yeonhwa.
Nod.
With just a single nod, another layer of shadow darkened his features.
Peng Yeonhwa let out a light laugh at his suddenly exhausted appearance and turned her head aside.
"But who is this one?"
Nangong Ryong stealthily tapped Nangong Hyeok's thigh again.
Tap tap! Tap tap!
Nangong Hyeok, face planted on the table, twitched.
"Snore... pfffttt."
"......"
"Snore... pfffttt!"
Nangong Hyeok's snoring responded in kind.
Even amid his fatigue, Nangong Ryong's expression turned a bit awkward.
Peng Yeonhwa stared at Nangong Hyeok with a slightly baffled look but said nothing.
Instead, the watching Eon Ha-gun stepped in once more.
"Haha! You understand, Miss Peng. We haven't even gotten introductions ourselves. No idea what he's been up to, but he passed out the moment we arrived."
The young experts chuckled and nodded.
"Guess he didn't even have time to change clothes."
"What's so urgent in the Nangong Family up in Hebei Province? Tsk tsk."
"If you're here to mingle, at least mingle."
The young experts eyed Nangong Hyeok and Nangong Ryong with displeasure.
Eon Ha-gun flashed a smug smile.
The already annoyed young experts now had ammunition, lending weight to his words.
Spotting the opening, So Cheonpung spoke up sharply.
"Even Young Master Eon of the Jinju Eon Family shows proper respect before the Pengs, but is that how guests should act?"
In other words, how dare a fallen Nangong Family act so above themselves.
"Even if manners are lacking, come on. This isn't a bedroom. Right, Young Master Eon?"
Eon Ha-gun's cheek twitched once, then he glanced at Peng Yeonhwa and pretended to rein it in.
"Cheonpung, enough. They're Nangong Family young masters, aren't they?"
"It's embarrassing to watch. This is a gathering of sects—acting like this is improper. Unless Hebei Province etiquette differs from Anhui's."
"Haha! The southern regions might be warmer, so napping at this hour could be normal down there."
A mocking smile hung on Eon Ha-gun's lips.
Even as young heir of the Jinju Eon Family, it wasn't easy to speak carelessly toward Nangong blood.
But this was the Hebei Peng Family's domain, and Peng Junghyeok backed him.
With the young master of the Five Great Families' hegemon behind him, he could afford the bravado.
Eon Ha-gun subtly checked Peng Yeonhwa's reaction and murmured offhandedly.
"Still, it's a formal gathering—looks bad, doesn't it, Miss Peng?"
Peng Yeonhwa shrugged.
"Could be."
Her unexpected words left Eon Ha-gun and the others momentarily stunned.
Could be?
"Pardon?"
"Isn't this a place for exchange?"
"Y-yes. So they should show respect..."
"The Nangong Family came the farthest here, didn't they? Just showing up is respect enough. They attended despite the travel fatigue."
"B-but their attire..."
"It's our fault for asking them to push through and come."
Eon Ha-gun was dumbfounded.
What?
What's going on?
Peng Yeonhwa continued.
"And before being guests, they're martial artists, right? For warriors, training matters more than gatherings. Criticizing the weary from practice isn't right."
"T-that's true, but Miss..."
"The Nangong Family is a renowned sword house acknowledged by all. Such fame isn't built overnight. Daily training without fail—that's how they earned it. It's admirable."
Peng Yeonhwa looked past Eon Ha-gun's flustered face straight at Nangong Ryong.
"Right, Young Master Nangong?"
"......"
So...
Training?
Nangong Ryong glanced down at his disheveled clothes, his expression turning subtle.
Indeed...
He met Peng Yeonhwa's gaze and gave a faint nod.
Nod.
Peng Yeonhwa's face brightened.
"See!"
"......"
"As martial artists and sword experts, that's how it should be."
...Nod.
Nangong Ryong nodded a beat late in agreement.
Bewilderment crossed the young experts' faces, but they soon acquiesced.
Recognizing the gap in their statuses, it made sense.
'...True, they don't have to force themselves like us.'
'The Nangong Family could afford that.'
'A tiger with missing fangs is still a tiger.'
'No wonder they're called the Emperor Sword House. Training till this hour.'
As the young experts' gazes softened, Nangong Ryong seemed resolved. He channeled inner energy into his fingers below the chair.
Crackle!
Lightning sparked at his fingertips, then stabbed into Nangong Hyeok's thigh.
Splat!
Bzzzzt!
The thigh muscles spasmed, and Nangong Hyeok's eyes snapped open from his face-plant on the table.
"Gahhh... ack! Shit, you scared me!"
Nangong Hyeok jolted up in shock.
A stinging pain like his thigh being pierced.
Definitely an acupoint strike.
Spotting the finger embedded then withdrawn from his thigh, Nangong Hyeok's eyes bulged.
Nangong Ryong quietly averted his gaze.
"......"
"......"
Seeing Nangong Ryong stay silent, Nangong Hyeok let out a scoff.
'That guy?'
Poking me?
Nangong Ryong?!
'...Why?'
Grimacing at the throbbing pain in his thigh, Nangong Hyeok looked ahead.
All the young experts stared at him.
Piercing glares like arrows.
'What the hell are these bratty bastards glaring at?'
Back in the day, he'd have gouged eyes for less.
Nangong Hyeok clicked his tongue, then tilted his head upon locking eyes with Peng Yeonhwa.
And who's this girl?
'Whatever.'
Nangong Hyeok rolled his eyes and brazenly made an excuse.
"...Leg cramp."
Then he slid back into his seat and stared at the ceiling.
His mind still foggy, like he hadn't fully woken.
'Damn, should circulate qi and sleep it off.'
He had zero interest in kids' gatherings.
He just wanted rest now.
Plenty of it, then back to digging holes.
Staring at the spinning ceiling, Nangong Hyeok yawned hugely.
The young experts all wore dumbstruck expressions.
What kind of weirdo was this?
Wasn't he just snoring away, then suddenly yelling as he bolted up?
Now rubbing sleepy eyes like he'd crash again any second—they stole glances at Peng Junghyeok.
In the chaotic atmosphere, Peng Junghyeok spoke.
"Training, eh? Fitting for the Nangong Family."
His low voice spread softly through the Wind Soul Hall, perking up the young experts' ears.
Peng Junghyeok looked straight at Nangong Ryong.
"Since training came up, how about we assess each other's progress and spar?"
Nangong Hyeok's head snapped up.
"Huh? Training? What bullshit is th—kgh!"
Crunch!
Nangong Ryong's finger dug into his side, forcing Nangong Hyeok to clamp his mouth shut and swallow a groan.
Nangong Hyeok glared at Nangong Ryong, fist trembling.
Nangong Ryong shook his head ever so slightly.
His tousled hair quivered like in a breeze.
As Nangong Hyeok puzzled over Nangong Ryong's averted gaze, Peng Junghyeok's voice returned.
"When else to experience the Nangong Family's famed swordsmanship? Everyone's curious about it anyway. What say you, Young Master Nangong?"
Under Peng Junghyeok's gaze, Nangong Ryong steadied his breath, then nodded quietly.
Nangong Hyeok laughed in disbelief.
'Hah, dead set on dying? Crawled here, and now sparring?'
Sword and all?
This'll be good.
Nangong Hyeok rubbed his poked side and chuckled beside him.
Then a sudden thought.
'No, wait—this cuts my workforce?'
Sparring with a sword like that, Nangong Ryong might collapse.
Throb!
The sharp pain in his side made Nangong Hyeok grin wickedly.
'Not my problem? One arm's enough for shoveling.'
Nangong Ryong could handle two men's share with one arm.
"But drawing swords here would look ridiculous, so let's do verbal swordplay instead."
Nangong Hyeok blinked at Peng Junghyeok's words.
'What sword?'
Verbal?
Did I hear wrong?
'Damn, not a circus—why verbal sparring?'
Man, righteous sects sure act all high-class.
Verbal swordplay, he says.
Just curse and argue like normal.
Pfft...
Nangong Hyeok nearly burst out laughing but froze.
His gaze slowly shifted sideways.
Tight lips, but pupils shaking.
'...Wait, verbal sparring with Nangong Ryong? What nonsense?'
Our young master barely speaks.
Nangong Hyeok's brow furrowed.
'Catching him to humiliate with words?'
Hah, these fools playing games?
As absurdity peaked, Eon Ha-gun stepped forward.
Having received Peng Junghyeok's transmission, he said triumphantly.
"I've long been interested in the Nangong Family's swordsmanship. I'm Eon Ha-gun of the Jinju Eon Family. I'll receive it."
Even he thought it sounded heroic and cool.
Feeling Peng Yeonhwa's sparkling gaze, Eon Ha-gun's lips curled up.
Nangong Hyeok quietly pressed down on Nangong Ryong's shoulder as he rose.
"Hold still."
"...?"
"Sigh... Instead of our young master, I'll handle it."
Nangong Hyeok cracked his neck side to side and strode toward Eon Ha-gun.
The young experts blinked.
They'd planned to shred Nangong Ryong verbally, but some unknown punk jumped in.
Peng Junghyeok's eyes narrowed, while Peng Yeonhwa's gaze chased the sword at Nangong Hyeok's waist, sparkling.
As attention shifted to Nangong Hyeok, Eon Ha-gun scowled.
"Who are you?"
Nangong Hyeok sighed.
"Nangong Hyeok. Nangong Family's second young master."
"Second?"
"Yeah."
"Hah. So you'll debate in the young master's stead?"
"Problem?"
"Not to brag, but I've never lost a verbal spar to my peers."
"Definitely not bragging. A warrior with a long tongue? Tsk."
"W-what?"
As Eon Ha-gun flustered at the tongue-click, Peng Yeonhwa covered her mouth beside him.
"Pfft!"
Her laugh flushed Eon Ha-gun's face with shame.
No man likes the girl he fancies mocking him.
But this was his moment to shine.
Eon Ha-gun clenched his fist and forced a calm expression.
"I'll yield the first move!"
"First?"
"What technique will you use?"
"Thunder Punishment Fist. Thunder Punishment Art."
"Good! I'll counter with Eon Family Fist and Seven Strings Heart Art. You attack first."
Nangong Hyeok sighed at Eon Ha-gun's confident words.
'End this quick and go back.'
Nangong Hyeok threw a punch into the air.
Embarrassment and pity surged as he did.
"Using Thunder Punishment Art at the seventh layer, targeting the solar plexus with Thunder Punishment Fist..."
"Blocked with Eon Family Fist."
Nangong Hyeok blinked at Eon Ha-gun's smug face, fist extended forward.
'...Blocked?'
My fist?
With what?
Joking?
"Uh, hey."
"Too perfect? Fine, I'll handicap for a newbie."
"No, blocking isn't just saying it."
"Nonsense! Eon Family Fist's defense is flawless. Pair it with Five Forms Seven Guards like this!"
Eon Ha-gun stepped back then advanced, flashy Eon Family Fist forms going pa-pa-pak.
'Damn, thinks that'll block?'
Veins bulged and writhed on Nangong Hyeok's forehead.
Eon Ha-gun sneered at his reaction.
The watching young experts smirked too.
"As expected of Brother Eon. Logic without holes."
"Eon Family Fist's forms are cleaner, faster!"
"Wow! Perfect. No countering that."
"Can't pierce Eon Family Fist's defense with a simple punch!"
"Now for Brother Eon's specialty? Brace for counter."
"Why not switch to sword? Can't beat Eon Family with fists, tsk tsk! Idiot, total idiot!"
What the hell are these brats babbling?
Perfect?
Idiot?
"My counter? Then with Eon Family Fist..."
Nangong Ryong twisted his head at Eon Ha-gun sneering into stance.
"Try blocking."
"Huh?"
"I said block."
"You're really attacking?"
"Yeah."
Eon Ha-gun grinned slyly and beckoned.
"Some fool who won't learn by words. Come at me..."
Before he finished, Nangong Hyeok closed the gap in a flash and unleashed his fist.
'Wha?'
Baaam!
Like a drumskin ripping, Eon Ha-gun's body rocketed backward like hit by a cannonball.
Boom!
Those who whipped around saw Eon Ha-gun plastered to the wall in a big X.
"......"
The young experts' jaws dropped.
Crack crack!
Nangong Hyeok rolled his wrist and cracked his neck.
"See? Can't block it."
His quiet voice plunged Wind Soul Hall into dead silence.